Sports ramblings…with a Yankees bias!

Getaway Game Blues…

All good things must come to an end…

CC Sabathia’s string of superior performances sadly came to an end today, but not before the Yankees had secured their fifth series win in five tries to start the season.The Yankees took the first two games of the series in Oakland from the A’s (on Tuesday and Wednesday nights by scores of 7-3 and 3-1).

Ray Chavez/Oakland Tribune/MCT

In the first game, Javier Vazquez, despite still not having his best stuff, finally got his first win of the season.Backed by a mammoth home run by Alex Rodriguez, Vazquez was able to do in Oakland what he wasn’t able to do in New York.Win.Hopefully, this game is the start of a sustained upward trend for Javy and he’ll soon be able to turn those Yankee Stadium boos into cheers.

William Perlman/The Star Ledger

I was supposed to go to Wednesday night’s game, but had to cancel at the last minute.Naturally, it was a huge night for Phil Hughes.Like CC did earlier this season, Phil took a no-hitter into the 8th inning.The no-hitter was broken up by Eric Chavez with a shot back to the pitcher that glanced Phil’s forearm and chest and he momentarily lost sight of the ball.By the time, he retrieved the ball, Chavez was on first.Not that I wanted Phil to lose his no-hitter, but I really would have been disappointed at missing the game if I had missed a historical moment (as if I wasn’t disappointed enough).Phil lost his shut-out when he was pulled after walking Gabe Gross.Joba Chamberlain was brought in, and he gave up a run-scoring single to Jake Fox (which scored Chavez and charged the run to Hughes since the runner was his responsibility).Nevertheless, it was a win (made even more special for Phil by the presence of his parents at the game).

Cary Edmondson/US Presswire

Today, the Yankees could have completed a sweep but the game got started on the wrong foot when A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first.It was a deficit that the Yankees could never overcome.CC was solid the rest of the way, but the damage had been done.

The Yankees did manage their first triple play since 1968 in the sixth inning.With the A’s Daric Barton on second and Ryan Sweeney on first, Kurt Suzuki came to the plate again.Suzuki hit the ball to third where A-Rod touched third base and threw to Robinson Cano at second.Cano swiped the bag and fired the ball to first where Mark Teixeira caught it just before Suzuki arrived.Maybe Suzuki should take some speed lessons from Brett Gardner!

Sanchez/AP

The A’s Dallas Braden picked up his third win of the season with the 4-2 victory.Outside of solo homers by Marcus Thames and Mark Teixeira, he really didn’t give the Yankees anything.Braden is definitely a rising star, but then again, when doesn’t GM Billy Beane come up with quality young pitching talent.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

There was a bit of controversy when Alex Rodriguez jogged across the pitching mound following a foul ball by Robinson Cano.Braden took offense, and accused A-Rod of violating an unwritten rule not to cross the pitcher’s mound.As much as I would like to say ‘what does it matter?’, Braden probably has a point.It doesn’t matter that he has only 17 career wins, A-Rod should have been more respectful.

The Yankees now head for Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels and Hideki Matsui.A.J. Burnett will take the mound against Ervin Santana as the Yankees try to extend their series win streak to six series.It’s great to see that Mark Teixeira is starting to warm up.Hopefully, he’ll feel comfortable in his former home stadium and help propel the team to yet another series win.

Sanchez/News

I am still not sure what I think about starting the NFL Draft on a Thursday night with one round.How strange is it that three of the first five picks are Oklahoma Sooners?Nevertheless, there were a few surprises.The guys I wanted (Tim Tebow and Devin McCourty) went ahead of the Minnesota Vikings selection at #30.The Denver Broncos traded up to get Tebow (Brady Quinn has gone from being a QB of the Future with the Browns to a just-for-now backup to Kyle Orton with the Broncos in a very short period of time), while the New England Patriots tabbed McCourty.

Bob Rosato/SI

So, with the 30th pick, here is the newest Minnesota Viking:Nobody!They traded the pick to the Detroit Lions who selected RB Jahvid Best (who would have been a great choice for the Vikings).I hope it was worth it for the Vikes.Disappointing…

How many more days until my next battle with Julia of Julia’s Rants?The Yankees head for Boston two weeks from tomorrow, so we’ll be getting ready for Round 2.Meanwhile, I wonder how the book assignment is coming along for Julia?Hmmmm….

3 Comments

Sorry you weren’t able to go to Wednesday night’s game and see Hughes’ gem in person. It was fun to watch. Have to disagree about the Braden-A-Rod dustup. While I can understand Braden feeling his territory had been invaded, his reaction was over the top – especially his comment that there would be retribution.

Two weeks from tonight – guess where I’ll be?? And have no fear – the book report will be DONE before then!! Congrats on the triple play – I can respect such an impressive play even if your guys make it. And I have to agree with you on A-Rod walking across the pitchers ground. It is “sacred” ground to the pitchers out there and as I said to you earlier – I can’t help but wonder if A-Rod would have done the same thing if Beckett or Holliday were on the mound. It really seems like it comes down to an issue of respect – and in this case A-Rod did not show respect to a fellow player. I hope there is no retribution – I hope all the players RESPECT the game – if not each other – more then that.

Ah…the NFL draft – as much as I LOVE football I am not much of a fan of college ball, so I don’t follow the NFL draft with as much passion as other fans do. I just hope that my Patriots do what they need to do to fill the holes they have.

Okay – back to work! I have a book to finish and a report to right. Then perhaps a bonfire to toast some marshmallows?? ;-)

Actually it was Nick Johnson, not Mark Teixeira who completed the triple play. Mark was the DH for that game. And about the incident between A-Rod and Braden, I do believe A-Rod was in the wrong but Braden over-reacted… a lot. If Braden wanted to let A-Rod know that he expects him to respect the game’s unwritten rules, he should have done that in a professional manner by going over to him and letting him know in a respectful but firm manner, instead of coming off as a cry-baby. It wasn’t that big of a deal to make so much noise over.

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